Gordon Setter Club of America National Specialty 2026
October 22–24, 2026 — the 42nd Gordon Setter Club of America national specialty: Thursday in Davis, the national Friday in Dixon, a concurrent specialty Saturday
The Gordon Setter Club of America holds its 42nd National Specialty October 22–24, 2026 — “California Dreaming Again” — across two towns. Thursday's events (sweepstakes and veteran sweepstakes, CGC and Trick Dog tests, senior handling, judges' education, a UC Davis veterinary behaviorist lecture, and the welcome party) run at the host hotel, the Prodigy in Davis. Friday moves to the Dixon May Fairgrounds for obedience, rally, the 4–6 puppy competition, Junior Showmanship and Pee-Wee, and the national specialty conformation judging (Phil Booth, 58 dogs), closing with the membership meeting and awards banquet. Saturday at Dixon brings the Golden Gate Gordon Setter Club concurrent specialty (Britt Jung, 54 dogs) — running alongside the Sacramento Valley Dog Fanciers Association all-breed shows Saturday and Sunday — and Sunday offers the GSCA hunt test at Quail Point Hunt Club in Zamora. Verified 2026
Dates
October 22–24, 2026
Venues
The Prodigy Hotel, 4100 Chiles Rd, Davis, CA (Thu) · Dixon May Fairgrounds, 655 S First St, Dixon, CA (Fri–Sat)
Host club
Gordon Setter Club of America
Format
42nd National Specialty · Thu indoors (hotel); Fri–Sat outdoors, unbenched
Entries
Registration closed — entries closed Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at 12:00 noon PDT
Thursday (October 22) at the Prodigy Hotel in Davis: national sweepstakes (Carolyn Gold, 1:00 PM, 9) and veteran sweepstakes (2:00 PM, 13 — 22 dogs / 22 entries total), CGC and Trick Dog tests (Denise Paquette, $20 for one test / $35 for both), senior handling, judges' education (Mick Osman), a health and behavior lecture from UC Davis veterinary behaviorist Dr. Elizabeth Stelow, and the welcome party in the evening. Friday (October 23) at the Dixon May Fairgrounds: obedience (Lora Cox, 10:15 AM, 2 Novice B) and rally (Lora Cox, 10:00 AM, 1), the 4–6 puppy competition (Denise Paquette, 10:45 AM, 2), Junior Showmanship and Pee-Wee (Phil Booth, 11:00 AM, 4 juniors — Pee-Wee free, enter day-of by 11:00 AM at the club table), and the national specialty conformation (Phil Booth, no earlier than 1:00 PM, 58 dogs), followed by the general membership meeting and the awards banquet Friday evening ($55). Saturday (October 24) at Dixon: the Golden Gate Gordon Setter Club concurrent specialty — sweepstakes (Cindy Stanford, 8:00 AM, 9 + 12 veteran), juniors (Britt Jung, 9:00 AM, 4), and conformation (Britt Jung, 54 dogs) — alongside the Sacramento Valley Dog Fanciers Association all-breed show (Richard Lewis). Sunday (October 25): the SVDFA all-breed show (Stephanie Kaul) and the GSCA hunt test at Quail Point Hunt Club in Zamora (open to all pointing breeds, separate premium). Show hours at Dixon: 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
Week
Thursday, October 22 – Saturday, October 24 (all-breed shows + hunt test Sunday, October 25)
National
Friday, October 23, at the Dixon May Fairgrounds
Thursday venue
The Prodigy Hotel, 4100 Chiles Rd, Davis, CA (host hotel)
Fri–Sat venue
Dixon May Fairgrounds, 655 S First St, Dixon, CA — outdoors, unbenched
Host club
AKC parent club for the Gordon Setter
Superintendent:BaRay Event Services, Inc.
Enter the show
Superintendent
BaRay Event Services, Inc. — [email protected], 360-755-7086; BaRayEvents.com
Closing
Registration closed — entries closed Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at 12:00 noon PDT
Fees
$42 first entry / $35 additional; Bred-by-Exhibitor puppy (6–12 months only) $30; sweepstakes & veteran sweepstakes $30; brace $21 first entry (no fee for additional); 4–6 beginner puppy $20; Junior Showmanship free; Pee-Wee free; CGC $20 / $35 for both tests. DNA number required for national entries. Catalog $30 pre-order / $40 at the show.
Thu Oct 22 (Prodigy, Davis) — Sweepstakes 1:00 PM (Carolyn Gold, 9); veteran sweepstakes 2:00 PM (13); CGC/Trick Dog (Denise Paquette); judges' education; welcome party
Fri Oct 23 (Dixon) — Rally 10:00 AM (Lora Cox, 1); obedience 10:15 AM (2 Novice B); 4–6 puppy 10:45 AM (Denise Paquette, 2); juniors 11:00 AM (Phil Booth, 4) + Pee-Wee; national specialty no earlier than 1:00 PM (Phil Booth, 58 dogs)
Sat Oct 24 (Dixon) — GGGSC sweepstakes 8:00 AM (Cindy Stanford, 9 + 12 veteran); juniors 9:00 AM (Britt Jung, 4); GGGSC conformation (Britt Jung, 54 dogs); SVDFA all-breed show (Richard Lewis)
We never guess ring times — every time here comes from the official program.
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Breed Judge Finder
The verified judging panel for the 2026 national specialty. Verified 2026
National specialty — conformation, juniors & Pee-Wee (Fri Oct 23)
Phil Booth
National sweepstakes & veteran sweepstakes (Thu Oct 22)
Carolyn Gold
Obedience & rally (Fri Oct 23)
Lora Cox
4–6 beginner puppy, CGC & Trick Dog
Denise Paquette
GGGSC concurrent specialty — conformation & juniors (Sat Oct 24)
Britt Jung
GGGSC sweepstakes & veteran sweepstakes (Sat Oct 24)
Cindy Stanford
SVDFA all-breed show (Sat Oct 24)
Richard Lewis
SVDFA all-breed show (Sun Oct 25)
Stephanie Kaul
Judges' education (Thu Oct 22)
Mick Osman
All assignments from the official 2026 judging program (BaRay Event Services).
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Juniors
Junior Showmanship and Pee-Wee run Friday with the national — juniors free, Pee-Wee free. Verified 2026
Fri Oct 23 — National specialty
Junior Showmanship — Phil Booth judges (11:00 AM, 4 entries: 2 Open Intermediate, 2 Open Senior). Free entry.
Fri Oct 23 — National specialty
Pee-Wee — Phil Booth judges; enter day-of by 11:00 AM at the club table. One child, one adult, one dog in the ring at a time; rainbow participation ribbons. Free.
Beyond the regular classes: the AKC National Owner-Handled Series (NOHS) is a separate competition for dogs handled by their owners — no professional handlers — and points for Reserve means Reserve Winners earn a 3-point major toward their championships. Verified 2026
Best Puppy / Best Bred-By-Exhibitor / Best Veteran
Special awards Friday with Best of Breed — and Saturday with the concurrent specialty.
Points for Reserve
Reserve Winners earn a 3-point major.
Hunting class
A Gordon Setter specialty staple — 4 hunting class dogs Friday (3 Saturday).
Senior handling
Thursday at the Prodigy Hotel in Davis.
4–6 beginner puppy
Friday ($20).
Hunt test
Sunday at Quail Point Hunt Club, Zamora — open to all pointing breeds (separate premium).
Concurrent all-breed shows
Sacramento Valley Dog Fanciers Association all-breed shows Saturday (Richard Lewis) and Sunday (Stephanie Kaul) at the Dixon May Fairgrounds — separate premiums.
Hosts Sunday's GSCA hunt test — about 31 miles from the hotel.
Hotels
The Prodigy Hotel
4100 Chiles Rd, Davis, CA Host hotel — Thursday's venue. King $84 / Double Queen $93 + tax; $75 flat pet fee per room per stay; 2-dog max.
RV parking
Reserved RV parking $65/night (2-night minimum, handled by SVDFA — reservations closed); non-reserved $75/night cash. Nearby: Vineyard RV Park, Midway RV Park, and SacWest RV Park.
Show vet (on call 24 hrs)
UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, 1 Garrod Dr., Davis — 530-752-1393.
Airports
Sacramento (SMF) 19 miles to the host hotel; Oakland (OAK) 79 miles; San Francisco (SFO) 86 miles. Allow an extra hour-plus for afternoon commute traffic.
Photographer
MyDogPhoto.com (Warren & Vicky Cook), 541-601-5359 — official; only the official photographer takes win photos.